Jazz Vocalist Laurie Krauz & Musical Director Daryl Kojak to Reprise 'Greatest Hits' Show at Metropolitan Room Celebrating Their 25-Year Collaboration, 7/12 at 7 PM

On May 13, 2006 in the highly praised monthly series at the Metropolitan Room, New York Cabaret's Greatest Hits (Produced by Stephen Hanks; Associate Producer Fr. Jeffrey Hamblin, MD), multiple Award-winning jazz vocalist Laurie Krauz and her long-time Musical Director Daryl Kojak (left in photo above) staged a show that was 25 years in the making. To celebrate their quarter-century collaboration, Krauz & Kojak performed a set of their favorite and most-loved numbers, not only bringing a packed room to its feet but also generating across-the-board raves from reviewers (below). By popular demand, this dynamic duo's collaboration celebration (with Sean Conly on bass and Gene Lewin on drums) will return to the Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street) on Tuesday, July 12 at 7 pm. For reservations, go to: http://metropolitanroom.com/event.cfm?id=239530&cart

"Krauz inhabited the music, wearing it like a second skin . . . She wasn't afraid to use her body as an extension of her vocal instrument, giving a physical, sensual performance . . . As for Kojak, from raw to refined, he's in touch with all the emotional forms that music takes, and draws on it all . . . This show was not simply performed, it was alive." -Remy Block, BroadwayWorld.com

"[The Laurie Krauz/Daryl Kojak show] is a 'where-have-I-been-all-these-years?' revelation . . . Krauz channels her music from somewhere most of us will never have access. It courses through her body like electricity, shaped by palpable, tingling control . . . By her side, Kojak taps into that same frequency, antennae up, responding . . . " --Alix Cohen, Woman Around Town

"Krauz is blessed with a rich and wide-ranging voice that soared and growled and did everything in between and her scatting ability may be unparalleled among living singers . . . Kojak is a master of scope and nuance in his playing and arranging, reaching from lusciously understated support when the lyrics are the thing." --Robert Windeler, Bistro Awards

"Krauz mines every melody and interprets every note until the song emerges splendidly original and unique . . . Kojak makes those keys vibrate with a rhythmic intensity that supports the lyrics and takes the singer (and the audience) on a musical adventure . . . Together, Kojak and Krauz turn every tune into a feast for body and soul." --Paulanne Simmons, Theater Pizzazz

Named one of the top 500 jazz vocalists of all time in a 2007 book by jazz critic Scott Yanow, Bronx-born Laurie Krauz is a three-time MAC Award-winner and a two-time Bistro Award-winner. Her most recent highly acclaimed show is Tapestry REWOVEN, a jazzy interpretation of the iconic Carole King album Tapestry, which earned her and Daryl Kojak a 2009 Bistro Award.

A multiple Bistro Award-winner, Daryl Kojak has worked on the New York music scene for more than 30 years as a pianist, producer, composer, songwriter, arranger and musical director. In addition to working with Laurie Krauz, he has performed live or in the recording studio with countless Broadway, film, concert, recording, and cabaret stars, including Kristen Chenoweth, Catherine Russell, Mark Nadler, Sandra Bernhard, Warren Vaché, and Jackie Hoffman.

For more information, contact Stephen Hanks, Cabaret Life Productions, 718-753-1323 or stephenhanks41@gmail.com

To post a comment, you must register and login.